Article hanging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An article hanging apparatus having at least two interlocking members. One bracket is secured at the desired location while the other bracket is fastened to the article to be suspended. The bracket that is secured to the desired location, has integrally formed tongues which protrude obliquely from the surface. The other bracket has corresponding and identical tongues, but oppositely directed from the first bracket so as to permit detachable interlocking of one bracket onto the other. The articles suspended may include planters, wall lamps, hooks, curtain rods, plaques, clocks, tools, ad the like, and may have their positions easily changed.

United States Patent Breslow June 27, 1972 [54] ARTICLE HANGING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Leon Breslow, 185 E. l62nd St., Bronx,

[22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,233,858 2/1966 Benjamin ..248/31l 3,480,243 11/1969 Sumerville ...248/224 X 2,477,509 7/1949 Burgesser ..2l1/88 1,848,937 3/1932 Coventry ..248/304 X 3,160,384 12/1964 Cirese ..248/265 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 991,957 6/1951 France ..248/257 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney-Allison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT An article hanging apparatus having at least two interlocking members. One bracket is secured at the desired location while the other bracket is fastened to the article to be suspended. The bracket that is secured to the desired location, has in tegrally formed tongues which protrude obliquely from the surface. The other bracket has corresponding and identical tongues, but oppositely directed from the first bracket so as to permit detachable interlocking of one bracket onto the other. The articles suspended may include planters, wall lamps, hooks, curtain rods, plaques, clocks, tools, ad the like, and may have their positions easily changed.

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FIG. 9

INVENTOR LEON BRESLOW WQ QMQ I ATTORNEY ARTICLE HANGING APPARATUS This is a continuation-in-part application of the application, Ser. No. 733,603, filed on May 31, 1968 now abandoned, for the same applicant.

This invention relates to an improved and simplified apparatus for the suspension of articles from a surface.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the suspension of articles from a surface having at least apair of interlocking brackets, one of which is secured at the desired location, and the other is secured on the article to be suspended.

. The design of a conventional article hanging apparatus reveals rather complicated cooperating structures. These have included hooks suspended from cables, elongated straps secured to the back of the article to be suspended, and complicated extending channel members also fastened to the back of the article suspended. Moreover, attempts to reduce the size of these devices have heretofore been unsuccessful.

Accordingly, the present invention overcomes these difficulties by utilizing at least two brackets, one of which is secured at the desired location, the other fastened to the article to be suspended. Each bracket comprises a frame having a plurality of tongues protruding outwardly and obliquelyfrom the surface. Each tongue preferably has a leading edge which is smaller in width than its mating aperture to permit detachable interlocking of one bracket onto the other.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to provide a simplified bracket means for supporting an object from a vertical surface.

It is another: object according to the present invention to provide supporting means that permits easy adjustment for the vertical and horizontal positions of the suspended article.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only, and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the brackets which may either be secured to a supporting surface or the article to be suspended;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing one bracket secured at the desired location while the other bracket is affixed on the article to be suspended;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one interlocking pair of protruding tongues;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another type of bracket;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the corresponding bracket which is detachably interlocked with the bracket as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the present invention showing a bracket having a plurality of vertical and horizontal tongue segments for various positioning of the suspended article;

FIG. 7 is a crosssectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 taken along line 77;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the inventive apparatus in which the bracket is affixed onto a curtain rod;

FIG. 9 shows a bracket affixed to an article such as a planter; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing the bracket affixed to a hook.

Referring to FIGS. 13, there is shown one embodiment of the present invention, wherein a bracket 1 includes a plurality of obliquely protruding tongues 2, 3 and 4. In the embodiment shown, bracket 1 has at each comer, a recessed surface 5, with than, the thickness of the bracket. It will then be possible for the matingsurfaces of both identical brackets to fully contact each other to provide a firm coupling between the engaging brackets. In operation, at least two brackets, each of which have at least one obliquely raised tongue, are secured on their respective surfaces in opposite directions, where bracket 1 is secured to the desired location 9 by means of screws 10. Likewise, bracket 1a is fastened to article 12, by means of screws 11. Brackets l and la may also be secured to the article and desired surface by means of an adhesive located on the back of the brackets.

The desired detachable interlocking may be effectuated by simply placing bracket la in proximity to bracket 1 where the weight of article 12 will cause tongue 2a to interlock with associated tongue 2, as seen in FIG. 3. Vertical displacement can be accomplished by simply varying the amount of tongue engagement, for example, tongue 3b onto tongue 4, etc.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention where bracket 21 has a plurality of horizontally extended obliquely protruding tongues 22, 23 and 24, each having dimension a many times greater than dimension b".

FIG. 5 shows bracket 25 designed for detachable interlocking connection with bracket 21 of FIG. 4. Bracket 25 has a plurality of obliquely extending tongues 22a, 23a, and 24a. The vertical height of each tongue as revealed by dimension b may correspond with dimension. b of bracket 21 as shown in FIG. 4. However, dimension a of bracket 25 is many times less than dimension a" of bracket 21, so as to permit slidable and detachable engagement of brackets 21 and 25. When, for example, bracket 25 is fastened to the article to be suspended, the article may be positioned in any relative horizontal or vertical location with respect to bracket 21, by having the cooperating interlocking tongues slide relative to each other.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, a back bracket 27 is shown adapted for use on a picture frame. Bracket 27 has rows of vertical tongues 30 and 31 extending partially across the bracket in spaced-apart relationship, and horizontal tongues 28 and 29 disposed at right angles thereto. Each tongue obliquely extends above the bracket surface in a manner similar to the above-described embodiments. In operation, bracket 27 may be secured to an article to be suspended and either an identical cooperating bracket (not shown) or bracket 25 from FIG. 5, can be mounted against the desired location. In the preferred form of bracket 27, the edges32 of each tongue have a smaller dimension than its cutout 33 as indicated above. In this manner, a cooperating element, such as bracket 25, can be easily detachably interlocked with bracket 27. Moreover, the article suspended may be rotated in increments by merely lifting, rotating and replacing it back on the tongues of the mating brackets.

FIG. 8 discloses a pair of spaced-apart brackets 36 which are joined by adjustable or telescoping curtain rod members 37 and 38. Brackets 36 are secured to the ends of curtain rod members 37 and 38 and corresponding brackets may also be mounted on a wall surface in order to detachably receive brackets 36. Brackets 36 preferably resemble the brackets shown in the embodiments of FIGS. l5.

FIG. 9 discloses another embodiment of the invention, wherein bracket 39 is integrally formed on an article 40, such as a planter, for detachably mounting the article to a wall surface.

FIG. 10 discloses still another embodiment of the invention, wherein bracket 41 includes a hook 4-2 secured on one face thereof. Bracket 41 may also be moun'ted to a corresponding mating bracket secured to a wall surface.

The apparatus, according to the invention, may be fabricated from metal, plastic, or any other rigid, or flexible material.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should beunderstood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for detachably mounting an article to a desired surface, comprising:

first and second brackets, each having a plurality of tongues rigidly affixed along their bottom edge to each of said brackets, and projecting outwardly and obliquely from one surface of said brackets and forming a corresponding adjacent aperture therein, the leading edges of said tongues being smaller in width than its corresponding aperture for permitting detachable interlocking of said brackets, and the thickness of each of said brackets being at least equal to the vertical projection of said tongues above the surface of the brackets; first means for mounting said first bracket onto an article;

and second means for mounting said second bracket to a desired surface so that said tongues and apertures of said first and second brackets may be detachably engaged. 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting means comprise a plurality of recesses, provided at each comer of said brackets, including mounting apertures extending through said recesses.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting means comprise adhesive material affixed to the back surface of said first and second brackets.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first bracket further comprises, 7

a plurality of elongated, vertically disposed tongues,

disposed perpendicular to said plurality of tongues on said bracket, and

a plurality of elongated horizontally disposed tongues,

disposed perpendicular to said vertically disposed tongues,

for allowing the article to be mounted in a plurality of positions differing from one another by of rotation.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second brackets further comprise a pair of elongated, telescopic rods, each affixed at one end to said first and second brackets.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rectangular-shaped box, secured to said first bracket means, for detachable mounting on the desired surface.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of hooks, rigidly affixed to the upper and lower edges of said first bracket, for providing a detachable coat hook. 

1. Apparatus for detachably mounting an article to a desired surface, comprising: first and second brackets, each having a plurality of tongues rigidly affixed along their bottom edge to each of said brackets, and projecting outwardly and obliquely from one surface of said brackets and forming a corresponding adjacent aperture therein, the leading edges of said tongues being smaller in width than its corresponding aperture for permitting detachable interlocking of said brackets, and the thickness of each of said brackets being at least equal to the vertical projection of said tongues above the surface of the brackets; first means for mounting said first bracket onto an article, and second means for mounting said second bracket to a desired surface so that said tongues and apertures of said first and second brackets may be detachably engaged.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting means comprise a plurality of recesses, provided at each corner of said brackets, including mounting apertures extending through said recesses.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second mounting means comprise adhesive material affixed to the back surface of said first and second brackets.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first bracket further comprises, a plurality of elongated, vertically disposed tongues, disposed perpendicular to said plurality of tongues on said bracket, and a plurality of elongated horizontally disposed tongues, disposed perpendicular to said vertically disposed tongues, for allowing the article to be mounted in a plurality of positions differing from one another by 90* of rotation.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second brackets further comprise a pair of elongated, telescopic rods, each affixed at one end to said first and second brackets.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rectangular-shaped box, secured to said first bracket means, for detachable mounting on the desired surface.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of hooks, rigidly affixed to the upper and lower edges of said first bracket, for providing a detachable coat hook. 